Folding table



Nov. 8, 1955 Filed Aug. 25, 195

f/@ff E. R. JAYSANE 2,723,122

FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l I @r2 i 1@ !-I *NVENTOR fil/Yard /ysdnz ATTORNEY E. R. JAYSANE FOLDING TABLE Nov. 8, 1955 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gama 7PM dum/f5 ATTORNEY United States Patent *Oiiice 2,723,122 .Patented Nov. *8,1 1955 FOLDIN G .TABLE Application August 25', 1954Serial No. y452,178

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-430)l This invention relates tol afolding table.

The table is adapted for use` as a serving table, picnic table, or for games' of various kinds. It is particularly useful for table tennis (pingpong) an'd will be firstillustratedin connection with such use.

Briey stated, theinvention comprises a` table including the following features. alone or vinv combination: means for causing a handle of 'thetable to be exposed when the table is in folded condition an'dto .be withdrawn and concealed below the top surface when the table is'opened'to position for use; means associated with` the handle forholding the folded parts of the table together when a liftingforce is applied to the handle; a central leg unit extending below the line of meeting ofthe. parts of the top when the table is in open position; means establishing the said central leg unit at approximately aright'a'ngle to the table top in open positionand, in the ltable tennis embodiment of the invention, means associated with 4.the central yleg unit for supporting a net across and above-the top ofthe table.

The inventionwill be described in connection with the attached drawings to which reference is made.

Fig. l is a view partly in section of the table tennis Aembodiment of the table in folded or'closed position.

Fig. v2 is a sectional View on line `2--2 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section of the table inpartly oprenedcondition.v

Fig. 4 is a view partly'insection of the tablein completely unfolded condition, ready for use.

Fig. 5 is a similar View on an enlarged scale of the inidportion of the table in open position.

Fig. 6 is a View partly in section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4 showing the table with a playing net supported above the level of the top thereof.

There is shown a folding table with a plurality of top parts 10 and 12 with hinge 14 securing the parts to each other at the meeting edges thereof, so that, when the top is folded, the backs of the top move towards each other. The handle 16 is secured to flexible spring strip 18 as by a friction fit within the slot in handle 16 (Fig. 5). The ends of the flexible strip are secured by fastening elements 20 such as bolts, screws, or rivets to rigid strut members 22 and 24 which at their other ends are connected, as in hingewise manner by part 26, to the table legs 28 through the bar 30.

The table contains also a central leg unit extending in the opened table below the line of hinging of the parts of the table top and including legs 33, a bar 34 connecting the two legs 33 and establishing them in xed relationship to each other, hinge members 36, one at each side connecting the bar 34 to the underside of the table top or, more strictly, to reenforcing frame 38 forming a part of the table top and defining therewithin spaces to receive the legs when the table is in folded position.

The central leg unit contains also a sliding post support 40 to receive the rod 42 extending into block 44. Block 44 is provided with hole to receive the pin 46 for supporting the playing net 48, as by being tied at positions 50 around the upper part of the said pin.

The central leg unit on one side is connected by the 2. hinge 52 to the frame constituting. a part of the top of the table. and on the other side to `the frame by a short metal strip 54 provided with slot'56 in which isengaged-stop 58, the stop 58. atv one end being' anchored' in' the leg 33. The length of this strip is such that when the table is opened as shown in Fig. 4 the' stop member holds the strip in taut position "and the strip prevents movement of the central leg unit in direction away from the saidstrip.

The frame 38 is disposed at a distance, from theA place of hinging of legs 28 tothe table top 10* (Fig. 3), that is equalapproximately to the thickness ofthe legs vas shown at 60. As a result, the frame provides a stop against the outward movementof Athe n'legs' 28` to A a positionA beyond a right angle to the Aplaneofv the top ofthe table.

The materials of construction -may be those that are conventional'inrlike'parts of other apparatus of'this type. Thus the hinges -may'be of-metal. The flexiblespringy strip 18 may be constructed offstr'ip'spring steel, stainless steel,- or the like. The table top, the apron that extends as a frame below the-table top, andt the legs, bars and strut members are suitably of wood, plastic or metal. -I have used toadvantage plywood ofmahogany orwalnut surface for the upper parts 10 and 12 of the top and mahogany,` redwood', r, or soft p'inel'for the frame 38, legs 28 and 33, andthevarious bars andstruts.

The operation ofthe table will be largely evident'from the description 'of' itthat has: already ybeen given.

The table vris opened 'by unfolding the lparts-"1.0y and 112 along the line of hinging ofthem and moving the llegs 28 to positions at right angles' to the table-top: This causes tightening of' flexibley strip .18, -and decreasing of the angle of upward bowing-of'it, orientation oflegs33 below the lineofi folding, and'fwi'thdrawal of. the handle 16, `to within the space'A formed; by slots-*17' and` .19' in registering' areas ofthe' meeting edges of parts 1.0 and 12 and'below the' :upper surface thereof.y As aresult the handle isconcealedbelowthe table `top,.as'.il1ustrated particularly inl-iig.A 5...

As the ytableisthus..unfolded, .the legs Y28, :ony their outer 'sides and .near the-positionsI of ."hirrging ofthei-flegs to the table top, strike shoulders on the frame 38. Further movement of the legs outwardly is thus prevented. Also, the handle being locked in the space defined by the lslots 17 and 19 fixes the level of the uppermost part of the exible strip 18, within the handle, so that the spring then restricts or permits entirely any movement of the leg 32 in inward manner.

The hinge 52 on the central leg unit with leg 33 and the spring strip 54 bring the said unit into position, when the table is opened, directly below and at right angles to the line of hinging of the top parts 10 and 12 of the table (Figs. 3 and 5).

When the table is to be used for tennis table, then the pins 42 are inserted in the slots 40 so that the parts attached to the pin 42 support the playing net at the proper level transversely with respect to the length of the table and above the middle thereof. Also the table top may be provided with lines (not shown) to outline the dilferent areas of the playing surface for the game.

The bowed strip 18 extends movably through slots in the meeting edges of the table top parts 10 and 12, and then laterally in opposite directions.

When the table is in closed position, there is dened between the backs of the parts 10 and 12 a space to receive not only the legs which come within the space when the table is folded but also attachments of conventional nature (not shown) tov receive and hold the playing paddles when not in use or tableware and utensils when the device is to be used as a picnic table.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding table including a handle that is exposed when the table is folded, a top with a plurality of hinged parts, and legs hinged to the top and foldable thereunder, the improvement comprising means attaching the handle to the legs, so that the handle is withdrawn in the direction of the table top as the legs are moved to the positions for supporting the table, and means for holding the handle in established position in the unfolded table.

2. In a folding table including a handle that is exposed when the table is folded, a top witha plurality of hinged parts, and legs hinged to the top and foldable thereunder, the improvement comprising an upwardly bowed spring metal strip extending from the handle, movably through adjacent edges of the hinged parts of the table tops, and then laterally in opposite directions beneath the table top, a portion of the handle engaging the upper part of the strip, and means securing the strip, on each side of the handle and below the level thereof in the upright table,` to the legs, so that movement of the legs outwardly decreases the angle of curvature of the bowed strip and exerts a downward force on the handle.

3. A table as described in claim l in which the means for moving the legs to the supporting position include spring metal strips, a portion of the handle engaging the said strips, strut elements, fastening means securing each of the said strips to a strut at a position remote from the handle, and means connecting another part of each strut in hinged manner to a leg of the table, so that movement of the legs causes movement of the struts, exible strips, and the handle.

4. A table as described in claim 1 including a central leg unit adapted to extend downward below and parallel to the line of hinging of the hinged parts of the table top, a hinge member securing the said leg unit to one of the said parts of the top, and a slotted strip member securing the central leg unit movably to the adjacent one of the parts of the table top, a stop element slidably engaged within the slot of the slotted member and also anchored in the leg unit, the slotted member being of length to be held tight by the said stop when the central leg unit is in the supporting position below the line of hinging of the parts of the table top.

5. A table as described in claim 4, the said central leg unit including two spaced legs and a cross member securing the spaced legs in fixed relationship to each other, supports for holding a playing net above the table top, and means for holding the said supports on the central leg unit.

6. A folding table comprising a handle, hinged legs, and a top in the form of a pair of hinged parts with meeting edges, registering parts of the meeting edges provided with slots defining, in the opened table, a space to receive and conceal the handle, and means for moving the handle to the said space by movement of the legs to the position for supporting the table.

7. A table including legs mounted in hinged manner so as to be foldable under the table, a handle, and flexible unions between the handle and the said legs at positions below the hinging of the legs to the table top, so that raising the handle above the table top causes movement of the legs to the folded-under position and force applied to the legs, moving them to the unfolded position, causes lowering of the handle.

8. A table as described in claim 1 including a frame extending around and below the upper parts of the top and forming within the frame shoulders disposed at distances, from the positions of hinging of the legs, equal to the thicknesses of the said legs and on the sides thereof opposite the hinges, so that, when the legs are moved to the supporting positions at a right angle to the top of the table, the frame forms stops against further outward movement of the legs.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

